2009-11 Marian University Course Catalog, fall 2010 edition

eligious resurgence has taken place. Some have gone so far
as to call into question the very notion of secularization, and
to replace it with the contrary conception, desecularization.
There is no question that religion plays an important role in
modern politics. With this in mind, our course will address
the following questions:
What is secularization? What role does
secularization play in the emergence of the modern
world? Has our world undergone “desecularization?”
what do these processes mean for politics?
What are the fundamental characteristics of “the
religious?” What is “the political?” How do these two
categorical concepts differ, or do they?
What is the place of religion in international politics?
What is the place of religion in American political
life?
POL 341
State and Urban Politics 3 credits
Prerequisite: 101 or permission. Introduction to the
structures and processes of state and urban governments
with particular reference to current problems. (2SO)
POL 342
The American Constitution 3 credits
Prerequisite: 101 or permission. Analysis of American
constitutional development through study of important
Supreme Court decisions affecting federal-state relations,
powers of the national government, interstate relations,
citizenship, and civil rights. (2FO)
POL 344
American Political Thought 3 credits
Prerequisite: 101 or permission. In-depth analysis of the ideas
and concepts that are at the core of American political
culture (democracy, equality, individual liberty) through a
survey of selected writings, ranging from the founding era to
our own times. The alternative understandings given to these
ideas and how they have changed over time as America has
evolved is examined. (2FE)
POL 345
Ancient and
Medieval Political Theory 3 credits
Prerequisite or corequisites: HIS 207 and 209. Examines the
political theory of antiquity and the medieval world. This
course reflects on fundamental questions and concepts like
happiness, justice, equality and democracy, obedience and
dissent, citizenship, and the distinction/contention between
religion and politics. This course addresses these questions
and concepts by way of an examination of ancient and
medieval texts in drama, philosophy, ethics, politics, and
religion. Cross-listed as HIS 315. (2SO)
POL 347
American Foreign Policy 3 credits
Prerequisite: 101 or permission. The ideas, actions, and
events that affected American foreign relations from the
American Revolution to the post-9/11 era. Theories of
decision-making, the tension between national self-interest
and American idealism, and the relationship between
domestic political and economic interests and the
formulation of foreign policy are addressed. Cross-listed as
HIS 347. (2FO)
POL 349
Modern and Contemporary
Political Theory 3 credits
Prerequisite: 101 or permission. Examines modern political
debates, from Nietzsche to Foucault and beyond. Topics
include total war and the sovereign state; fascism and
totalitarianism; the triumph of liberalism; security and
political fear; religion and secularization; and terrorism. (2SE)
POL 350
Politics of Asia 3 credits
Prerequisite: 101 or permission. Comparative examination of
selected political systems in the Asian region. Focus is on the
unique and shared political features of each, and the impact
of historical experience, social dynamics, and economics on
their political development. This course partially satisfies the
general education requirement in the cultural awareness
category. (2FE)
POL 353
Politics of Development 3 credits
Prerequisite: 101 or permission. An interdisciplinary
examination of the politics of developing countries, analyzing
the interrelationship of the international system, domestic
politics and economics, and social forces in the development
process. This course partially satisfies the general education
requirement in the cultural awareness category. Cross-listed
as HIS 353. (2SE)
POL 355
Politics of the Middle East 3 credits
Prerequisite: 101 or permission. Course begins with a brief
introduction to Islamic civilization and the Ottoman Empire,
and then focuses on the politics of the modern Middle East.
The impact of interaction with the West on the region’s
political regimes and cultures, nationalism and stateformation,
the tension between secularism and Islam, the
Arab-Israeli conflict, and the United States’ role in the Middle
East are examined. This course partially satisfies the general
education requirement in the cultural awareness category.
(2SO)
POL 357
Civil Wars and Ethnic Conflicts 3 credits
Prerequisite: 101 or permission. Examines the phenomena of
civil wars from three analytical perspectives: theory, case
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